Happy Birthday to a beautiful Rose...

Wow! I can't believe it - where have the last 24 years gone? I can't believe that my little sister is 24 today, it makes me feel... OLD. I'm 8 years older then Rosanne. That makes me 32, for those who are bad at maths. That's the same age my mother was when Rosanne was born. Scary when you think that she already had 2 kids (we were 7 & 8) , a newborn baby to care for and a husband who was so sick, she didn't know if he was going to make it. Who could blame her for suffering postpartum depression? Even with a beautiful new baby...

Actually, let me tell the truth - Rosanne was an ugly newborn. I wish I had some photos with me to scan and share. She grew cute really quickly, but when she was born, she really wasn't the prettiest (sorry Rose, I have to tell the story properly).

I can remember the events around Rosanne's birth so clearly. My mom was induced and spent the night before in hospital (Karl Bremmer, can you believe??). Joanne and I slept over at a friend and my mom spoilt us with little hamburger shaped erasers (I probably still have mine in my box of erasers I collected as a kid) and pizza shaped note books. We were SOOOOO excited to meet our little brother/sister. The next morning, we went off to school, knowing that by the time we got home he/she would be born already. At 9:30am on Tuesday the 20th of August 1985 (see, even sounds like yesterday), after an extremely short labour (my mom was induced at 6am), that the doctor nearly missed (rumour has it he walked in to catch her), Rosanne was born. My dad came to school shortly after 1st break and Joanne and I were summonsed over the intercom to go to the secretary's office. We knew then that our baby had arrived. My dad met us in the school foyer and announced "It's a girl! Mom says she's got red hair and she's ugly" (sorry again Rose). We couldn't wait to get home from school to see her.

My mom was home from the hospital the next day and I took Rosanne in to Brownies with me to show her to everyone there (Pia - don't you remember??). Bearing in mind how we all mollycoddle our babies today - within the first week of her life, we'd dragged her with us to Sunday School, to our classrooms at school and to visit the neighbours. She was bathed with us and shoved around in our dolls prams. And she survived. She grew more and more gorgeous with each passing day and with her gorgeous red ringlets, I still think that she was the cutest toddler I've ever seen.

Because of the gap in our ages, I always felt responsible for Rosanne. She used to sleep top-to-tail with me in my bed virtually every night and I loved it. It's taken me a few years to get past that parental role, but I love her like a friend now. She's loyal, she's loving, she's logical and she's the deepest thinking person I know. She's been a wonderful, happy sister and she's been an amazing Auntie to Jake and now Connor. She's always teased Jake, like a big sister and they have a very special bond.

So, Happy birthday Rosie. This is going to be a very exciting year, filled with all kinds of special moments and wonderful memories. Enjoy everything!! We love you so, so much and it has been such a wonderful journey watching you grow up to become the gorgeous woman that you are today. I can't wait to see you glowing on your wedding day, Gareth is the luckiest man alive (OK, OK, Jo - he's only one of them)! I hope you have a very happy day today!!

PS. We heard yesterday afternoon that my dad's boarding application has been approved. He hasn't received the official letter confirming all the details yet, but it's on it's way. I can't believe my dad's a pensioner...

PPS. Jake has 2 loose teeth. Not sure if I'm ready for all this growing up stuff yet.